Reinforced brake-beam.



\ PATENTED FEB. 27, 1906.

C. E. BAUER.

REINFORCED BRAKE BEAM.

INVENTOR, @M Z. M

y Fay? APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1,1905.

WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RAILWAY APPLIANCE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORA- TION OF ILLINOIS.

REINFORCED BRAKE-BEAM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 27, 1906.

Application filed June 1, 1905. Serial No. 263,238.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL EDWARD BAUER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hammond, in the county of Lake and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reinforced Brake- Beams, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to beams made of rolled commercial iron such as I-beams, and particularly to means for strengthening the central portion of brake beams and the like, its objects being particularly to reinforce the compression and tension flanges at the part of the beam which receives the greatest bending strain, and to provide a superior form of reinforcing sheath which may be slipped upon the beam after bein formed up. The invention is shown in pre 'erred forms in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a brake beam with the brake head left off, showing the reinforcement extending over the central half of the length and on both flanges and web;

Figure 2 is a cross section of the beam in Figure 1 and Figure 3 is a similar section of a modification omitting the web portion of the reinforcement.

In this instance I have shown an I-beam 4, having the tension flange 5 and the compression flange 6, both surrounded by sheaths formed of plate metal, to give them additional strength. The sheath or casing 8, as shown in Figure 2, envelops the flange and a portion of the web, and may be shrunk on to make a ti ht fit, and is riveted by rivets 9 to the web 0 the beam 4. Each of the sheaths has one short wing lying against the flange, and one long wing 7, extending beyond the middle so as to overlap the corresponding long win of the sheath on the other side, as will be p ain.

In some cases the reinforcing sheath may engage the flange alone, as shown at the lower part of Figure 3, and in other cases it may be extended to engage the web and be riveted thereto as shown at 10 in the upper part of Figure 3. Where the reinforcement 18 mainly to stiffen the flange the sheath 11 need not be riveted. The beam as designed in Figure 3 is intended also to both stiffen and add to the tensile strength of the upper flange.

By this means the brake beam may be strengthened at just the point where the greatest bending moment is applied, and thus obtaining greater economy in metal, using a lighter commercial I-beam than would otherwise be necessary. Other advantages will readily occur to those familiar with the use of such devices.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the following:

1. A flanged beam, having a reinforcing sheath of metal extending for a portion of its length and adapted to stiffen the beam at the point of greatest bending moment, such sheath enga ing the flange on both surfaces.

2. A bra e beam having plate metal sheaths closely fitting and surrounding the flanges of the beam, and riveted to the web, said sheaths extending over the central portion of the beam.

3. The combination with an I-beam, of a reinforcing sheath enveloping each flange and having each a narrow and a wide wing, the respective wide wings projecting over each other and both riveted to the web of the beam.

4. In a brake beam a reinforcement comprising a rolled late metal sheath extending over the centra part of the beam and enveloping the flange and riveted to the web, substantially as described.

5. A brake beam having plate metal sheaths closely fitting and surrounding the flanges and web of thebeam, said sheaths extending over a portion of the length of the beam.

In testimony whereof I have hereunder signed my name in the presence of the two subscribed witnesses.

CARL EDWARD BAUER.

Witnesses:

PAUL CARPENTER, ALBERT GRANT MILLs. 

